Automatic device for preparing perforated cards or bands for loom jacquards

ABSTRACT

An automatic device to be used in the preparation of perforated cards or bands for loom Jacquards in accordance with a colored drawing, comprises a number of weave circuits, each including a grid one series of bars of which corresponds to the warp threads and the other one to the weft threads, the bars of a series being selectively connectable with the bars of the other series in accordance with the particular weave. The bars of the first series receive in succession a line signal each time the main photo-electric means which scans the drawing passes from one line thereof to the next one while the bars of the other series are connected with individual gates which are conditioned in succession just before the main photo-electric means scans a thread crossing in the drawing. The signals from the various weave circuits are applied to a combination circuit. The latter may comprise individual gates which also receive the color signals from the main photo-electric means and the outlets of these latter gates are applied to a general gate which is conditioned when the said main photo-electric means scan the center of the representation of a thread crossing in the drawing. The combination circuit may also comprise a grid with two series of bars selectively connectable with each other in order that each color of the drawing may correspond to any one of a number of different weaves.

nited States Patent Frappe 1451 Dec. 5, 1972 [54] AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR PREPARING PERFORATED CARDS OR BANDS FOR LOOM JACQUARDS [72] Inventor: Pierre Frappe, Lyon, France [73] Assignee: Societe Verdo1S.A., Lyon, France [22] Filed: Sept. 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 181,469 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 5, 1970 France .7040904 [52] US. Cl. ..235/61.6 A, 234/65, 139/319. [51] Int. Cl. ..G06k 1/00 [58] Field of Search ..234/65;235/61.6 A, 61.6 B;

Primary Examiner-Maynard R. Wilbur Assistant Examiner-Joseph M. Thesz, Jr. Attorney-Arthur E. Dowell, Jr. et a1.

A1 A2 A3 A A5 [571 ABSTRACT An automatic device to be used in the preparation of perforated cards or bands for loom Jacquards in accordance with a colored drawing, comprises a number of weave circuits, each including a grid one series of bars of which corresponds to the warp threads and the other one to the weft threads, the bars of a series being selectively connectable with the bars of the other series in accordance with the particular weave. The bars of the first series receive in succession a line signal each time the main photo-electric means which scans the drawing passes from one line thereof to the next one while the bars of the other series are connected with individual gates which are conditioned in succession just before the mainphoto-electric means scans a thread crossing in the drawing. The signals from the various weave circuits are applied to a combination circuit. The latter may comprise individual gates which also receive the color signals from the main photo-electric means and the outlets of these latter gates are applied to a general gate which is conditioned when the said main photo-electric means scan the center of the representation of a thread crossing in the drawing. The combination circuit may also comprise a grid with two series of bars selectively connectable with each other in order that each color of the drawing may correspond to any one of a number of different weaves.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR PREPARING PIERFORATED CARDS OR BANDS FOR LOOM JACQUARDS The present invention relates to the preparation of perforated paper bands adapted to be used in looms .lacquards and which are commonly known as Jacquard cards or patterns.

It is known that the various elements of the design of a fancy fabric are obtained by changing the crossing mode of the warp and weft threads in the different zones of the design, each mode being termed a weave. Thus, for instance, in the fabric a given zone will correspond to the calico weave, another one to a sateen weave', etc...

. The preparation of the paper bands of cards required to obtain a determined fabric requires a drawing (generally established on squared paper) in'which the various zones are indicated by different colors in accordance with a pre-determined code indicated by the designer.

Each color (the uncolored zones of the paper being considered as a color) may have a single meaning. For instance the red color may indicate a given sateen weave anywhere in the drawing. But this meaning may be more complex, the weave varying for instance in. accordance with the count of the threads or with the zone of the drawing if the fabric comprises floating wefts,

etc...

When such a drawing or design is to be read in in accordance with the prior art, for the preparation of the perforated paper adapted for use in the Jacquard, the operator or reader follows the horizontal lines for each color. In other words he first reads in the red color everywhere this color has the same meaning.

The corresponding weave is obtained by means of a paper band perforated in accordance with the red weave, which is looped on itself in the form of a sleeve and appropriately mounted in the perforating machine. When the'reading in of a color is ended, the operator reads in the next one, the perforated paper sleeve being changed in accordance.

The disadvantage of this method is that the various colors of the design are read in successively, which is relatively time-consuming. More particularly when the reading-in operation is efiected automatically as by means of photo-electriccells, it would be of advantage to read in all the colors simultaneously. This of course requires that all the weaves should be available at the same time for the perforating machine, a selecting device being provided to render effective at any time the weave which corresponds to the color being read- It has been proposed to introduce the weaves in the perforating process by means of supports different from the conventional sleeves, as for instance of the perforated cards or magnetic tapes used in electronic computers. But this requires intricate and expensive devices. Moreover a quite difficult problem arises when a color has a complex meaning and corresponds for instance to a combination of elementary weaves; this generally requires a modification of the design.

The main object of the present invention is to replace the weave supports as hitherto used (perforated paper sleeve, perforated cards, magnetic tapes) by signal generators which may be selected electronically as required without any mechanical operation, such generators being formed of grids with removable connecting plugs, by means of which the operator may so to speak see each weave and therefore may prepare same without having to use for this purpose any registering apparatus. In the case of quite complex weaves it is possible to realize same by an appropriate combination of elementary weaves, each -physically materialized by a grid-and-plug unit, such combination being itself effected by means 'of another grid-and-plug unit.

The present invention concerns a device for the automatic preparation of perforated cards or paper bands for Jacquards, of the kind wherein the color information received from a photo-electric system which scans by successive lines the design illustrating the warp and weft threads of the fabric to be woven, is combined with the weave information derived from a record which advances in synchronism with the scanning of the design, in order to generate signals to control a perforating machine. In accordance with this invention such a device comprises weave circuits each in the form of a grid including 'two sets of electrically insulated bars adapted to correspond respectively to the warp and weft threads of the weave, each bar of a set being connectable with any bar of the other set by means of a removable plug, with the bars of the first set receiving in succession a signal each time the photo-electric device scans another thread in one of the groups formed'respectively by the warp and weft threads, and with the bars of the second set being connected with the outlet of the circuit through gates controlled in succession by signals which occur each time the photo-electric system scans another thread in the othergroup, in such manner that for each crossing of a thread of the first group with a thread of the second group each weave circuit only generates a weave signal on its outlet if the bars which correspond to these two threads are connected with each other by a plug and a combination circuit which receives the weave signals from all the weave circuits and the color signals from the photo-electric system in order to send a coincidence signal to the perforating machine whenever a weave signal coincides with a color signal.

The distribution of the perspective signals to the bars and to the gates is preferably insured by shift registers actuated by appropriate signals a short time before the photo-electric system scans a point of the design. As to the combination circuit, it preferably comprises gates each receiving a color signal and a weave signal.

In the annexed drawings FIG. 1 shows under diagrammatical form a weave design being read-in by a system comprising main photo-electric cells and auxiliary mark cells.

FIG. 2 illustrates a modified arrangement of the auxiliary cells.

H6. 3 is the diagram of a first embodiment of a weave circuit.

FIG. 4 shows the diagram of a combination circuit adapted to combine the color signals from the main photo-electric cell and the weave signals from the weave circuits.

FIG. illustrates another possible embodiment of a weave circuit.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a combination circuit.

With reference to FIG. 1 a conventional weaving design is formed of a squared paper 1 on which the various squares are colored in accordance with the different weaves desired, the color of the paper itself, as for instance white, corresponding to a particular weave, generally to the background (the colors are not indicated in FIG. 1). The design is read in by means of an optical system 2 which scans the successive horizontal rows of squares. This device may comprise a system of lenses, a color selector and a main photo-electric cell for each color of the design. It may be supposed for the sake of simplicity that the design only comprises three colors. Device 2 therefore emits for each square one of three color signals C C C There is further provided an auxiliary normal coincidence photo-electric cell 3 which moves across the design with system 2 and which emits a signal each time the latter scans the center of a square. In the example illustrated it has been supposed that the paper 1 was provided with a lower row or thick black vertical lines which act on cell 3. This auxiliary cell could also scan the vertical lines of the squared paper provided same are sufficiently thick for this purpose. The coincidence signals generated by cell 3 will be thereafter designated by reference 8;.

FIG. 1 shows a third photo-electric cell 5 which may be considered as the advanced coincidence cell. Cell 5 also scans the scale 4 at the same rate as cell 3 but with a slight fixed advance. It therefore emits a signal S, somewhat before the main cell 2 reaches the center of a square. Here again this auxiliary cell 5 could also cooperate with the vertical lines of the squared paper.

FIG. 2 shows a modification wherein the advanced coincidence cell 5 is no more in front of the normal coincidence cell 3, with respect to the relative displacement of the cell until in front of the paper, but somewhat behind the said cell 3. It is easy to see that if the longitudinal distance betweencells 3 and 5 is lower that the spacing apart of lines 4, cell 5 will emit a signal 8, just before the main cell 2 reaches the center of a square, except for the first one. As explained below the arrangement of FIG. 2 simplifies somewhat the operation of the shift registers.

The above mentioned signals C C C S and 8;, which may be tenned read signals, are transmitted to a circuitry comprising a number of weave circuits and a combination circuit. The weave circuits generate weave signals in response to some of the read signals. As to the combination circuit, it combines the read signals and the weave signals and it actuates in accordance a perforating machine.

FIG. 3 illustrates a weave circuit by means of which it is possible to realize any weave comprising five warp threads and five weft threads. This circuit comprises two shift registers 6 and 7 respectively corresponding to these five warp and weft threads. Each register has a shift inlet 6a, 7a and a resetting inlet 6b, 7b. The inlet 70 of register 7 receives the signals 8,, from the advanced coincidence cell 5. The inlet 6a of register 8 receives a signal 8,, through a conductor 8 whenever the cell unit has scanned a row of squares and is going to scan the next one, as for instance when this unit is returned from the right-hand side of paper 1 towards the left-hand side thereof while being lowered thereon. The inlet 7b is also adapted to receive a signal whenever the scanning of a row is ended and for this purpose it may also be connected with conductor 8 as shown. As to inlet 6b it should normally only be effective at the beginning of the read-in operation. It has therefore been illustrated as actuated manually. But it should be understood that the control of resetting inlets 6b and 7b could be effected in any appropriate manner.

It often occurs that in a drawing each square corresponds to more than one warp thread. In such a case the pulse or signal 8,, may be divided by an appropriate device into a plurality of successive pulses in such manner that the effect on the perforating machine is the same as if each square of the drawing had been divided into a number of squares of the same color. It may also happen that a single horizontal row of squares corresponds to more than one weft. In such a case each row may be read in several times repeatedly before proceeding to the next one, or the reading in may be registered in an appropriate memory and repeated by same on inlet 6a before reading the next row.

It is further to be understood that registers 6 and 7 as illustrated in FIG. 3 are of the ring type, i.e., that at any time one only of the outlets of each is at level 1, the other outlets being at level 0. Initially, when inlets ,6b and 7b are activated, the first outlet is at level 1. After the first pulse on 6a (or respectively 7a) the first inlet returns to 0 and the second inlet comes to level 1, and so on, level 1 circulating, so to speak, along the successive outlets and passing from the last one to the first one as if the register were circular.

Each of the five outlets of register 6 is connected through an inverter 10a to 10e with an individual conductor, respectively 11a to He, the five conductors lla-ll forming one of the two series of bars of a grid G, as explained below.

Of course register 6 could be of the inverted type, i.e., one of its outlets being at level 0 and all the remaining ones at level 1, inverters 10a to We being suppressed and the register outlets being directly connected with conductors or bars 11a to 1 1e. This may be realized by establishing the register by means of bistable flip-flops each having a direct outlet and an inverted outlet. It would also be possible to use a counter and to decode the outlets thereof.

As to the five outlets of register 7, they are respectively connected with one of the two inlets of NAND gates 12a to 1212. Such gates only generate a voltage at the lower level (level 0) when all their inlets are at the upper level (level 1) and therefore their outlet is at the upper level (level 1) for any other combination of their inlet levels. The second inlets of gates 12a to 12c are respectively connected by wires 13a to l3e with conductors 15a to 15c which form the other set of bars of grid G. As this is conventional in the art, grid G may receive plugs adapted to connect a bar of one set with a bar of the other set at the crossing point of the two bars. In the example illustrated the connections are as follows 10a-15a, lob-15c, 10a-15c, 10d-15b and l0e-l5.

The outlets of gates 12a to 12e are connected with the five inlets of a NAND gate 16. The outlet wire 17 of gate 16 transmits the weave signal to the combination circuit which will be described below.

The operation of the circuitry illustrated in FIG. 3 is at the left end of the upper horizontal row of squares of the design, cells 3 and 5 also being at the left since they move in unison with system 2.

In order to scan the first horizontal row of the design, the reading unit 2-3-5 is advanced towards the right in FIG. ll. Cell 5 thus passes across the first line of scale 4;. It then generates a pulse 8,, which is applied to inlet 7a and which causes register 7 to advance through one unit. Registers 6 and .7 are then both at their first position (position No. l), which means that they emit a signal at the upper level 1 on their outlet No 1, the four remaining outlets being at the lower level 0.

Considering first register 6, signal 1 from its outlet No l is transformed by inverter 10a into a signal which is applied to conductor or bar 11a and therefore to conductor or bar 15a with which the latter is connected. This signal is transformed into a signal 1 by inverter 14a and it is transmitted by wire 13a to the second inlet of NAND gate 12a.

But this second inlet of gate 12a simultaneously receives a signal 1 from outlet No. 1 of register 7. It therefore generates on its outlet a signal 0 which reaches the first inlet of gate 16. Since this gate is of the NAND type, it generates level 1 when one at least of its inlets is at level 0. Outlet 17 thus transmits signal I to the combination circuit still to be described.

A short time after emission of signal S the optical reading'system 2 reaches the center of the first square and simultaneously the normal coincidence cell 3 passes exactly in front of the first line of scale 4. The result of this simultaneous passages will be discussed later.

When the optical system 2 of FIG. 1 will reach the second square of the row being scanned, the advanced coincidence cell will emit another signal S, which will advance register 7 from its position No. 1 to its position No. 2. It is easy to understand that since there is no connection whatever between conductors 11a and 15b, inverter 14b will not be energized and consequently wire 13b will receive no signal 1. Gate 12b will therefore receive signal 1 from outlet No. 2 of register 7 and signal 0 from wire 13b. It will thus generate outlet level 1. Since the four other gates 12a, 12c, 12d and He have their first inlet at level 0 (owing to the fact that they are connected with the then ineffective outlets of register 7), they will also emit outlet level 1. Gate 16 will therefore receive five inlets at level 1 and it will generate level 0 which will appear on its outlet wire 17.

It will be understood that similarly for the third, fourth and fifth squares of the upper horizontal row of the drawing, outlet wire 17 will receive level 0 since conductor Ila is not connected to any of conductors 15b to l5e.

When the sixth square is reached, register 7 has returned to its position No. 1 and the cycle abovediscussed is repeated, and so on until the endof the row.

When the optical system 2 will pass from the first horizontal row to the next one, signal 8,, will appear on conductor 8. This signal will return register 7 to its initial position (outlet position No. 5) and it will advance register 6, in such manner that the latter will be brought to position No. 2, thus activating inverter 10b which will apply signal 0 to conductor lllb. It is easy to verify that for the first and the second square outlet wire 17 will be at level 0, that for the third square it will be brought to level 1, and that for the fourth and fifth square it will be returned to level 0.

It will be understood that the same explanations may be applied to the third, the fourth and the fifth rows of squares. Finally the circuitry of FIG. 3 will have exactly realized the weave as prescribed by the plugs mounted on grid G. 7

It has been assumed that the connecting plugs form a direct connection between the two sets of bars of grid G. But in actual practice it may be of interest to use plugs including an electronic component and more particularly a diode adapted to prevent passage of current in the undesirable direction.

It will further be noted that in FIG. 1 the-advanced coincidence cell 5 is disposed in front of the normal coincidence cell with respect to the scanning direction. But cell 5 may also be disposed as illustrated in FIG. 2, namely behindv cell 3. The operation remains exactly the same with this sole difference that when the first square is being read in, this cell 5 has not yet emitted its signal or pulse 8,. It results therefrom that register 7 has not yet been shifted before system 2 reaches the center of the first square. Register 7 must therefore be brought initially to position No. 1 and not to position No. 5, which is practically more logical.

' The circuit of FIG. 3 may comprise many modifications, more particularly concerning the gates and the inverters. It will be understood, for instance, that'AND gates could be used in lieu of the NAND gates described, since in the circuit illustrated the former realize a double inversion. Any other combination of gates and inverters could be possible, as this is clear for any one skilled in the art. It has already been indicated that with a register 6 of the inverted type (one outlet at level 0 and the remaining ones at level 1), the inverters 10a to 10b could be suppressed. It may further be noted that it is possible to provide in addition to the normal outlet wire 17, a reverse outlet wire 17a connected with wire 17 through an inverter 17b.

The combination circuit illustrated in FIG. 4 comprises five inlet wires ll8c 18c 18c, 18c, and l8c adapted to receive color signals from the optical reading system 2 of FIG. 11. Since in this example there are only provided three colors, only the three first ones of these wires received signals, respectively C C C the two remaining ones being grounded so as to remain at level 0. Wires 180, to 1,80 are respectively connected to five NAND gates 19c, to 19c, the outlets of which are in turn connected with the five inlets of a NAND gate 211. The outlet wire 22 of this gate is connected with an inverter 25. The outlet wire of inverter 25 transmits the controlling signal to the perforating machine, not shown. The latter comprises in the conventional manner a number of elements equal to the number of possible perforations in a Jacquard card. These elements are scanned in succession in synchronism with the advance of the optical system 2 across the design (which may be obtained by means of the signals 8,, S and S in such manner that each element may assume either an effective of an ineffective position in correspondence with the voltage level on wire 26, which is easily obtained by means of appropriate relays, gates or registers. Devices of this kind being conventional in the art, they need not be described in the present specification.

Each NAND gate 190, to 190,, includes two inlets, the second one being connected with the outlet wire 17 of a weave circuit. In the example illustrated it has been assumed that the system comprises five weave circuits A, to A Since the design of FIG. 1 only comprises three colors, three of these five circuits should be selected, each corresponding to one color. Here again the second inlet of gates 190, to 190,, which are unused are grounded in order to insure that these gates remain blocked. It is however to be noted that the grounding of one inlet is sufficient for each gate, the grounding of the second inlet being merely effected as a matter of safety.

Gate 23 has a second inlet 27 adapted to receive signal 8,.

The operation is as follows At the position of rest inlet 27 is at level and therefore outlet 24 is at level 1 whatever may be the level of wire 22. Consequently the outlet wire 26 of the circuit is at level 0.

If the photo-electric system 2 generates a signal at level 1 on line C,, lines C and C remaining at level 0, the corresponding gate 19c, is conditioned and if it also receives a signal at level l on its second inlet from the corresponding weave circuit (circuit A, in the example of FIG. 4), its outlet sinks to level 0. Gate 21 no more has its inlet at level 1 and it therefore generates level I on wire 22, which conditions gate 23.

Consequently when coincidence signal S, appears, gate 23 will emit level 0 on its outlet 24 and inverter 25 will generate level I on the outlet 26 of the combination circuit. The corresponding element of the perforating machine will be brought to its effective position.

It will be understood that the same operation would take place for colors C and C as well as for weaves A and A The circuit of FIG. 4 therefore does permit of combining the color signals and the weave signals in order to insure control of the perforating machine.

The preceding explanations illustrate why the weave shift circuits, such as that of FIG. 3,'are actuated by the advanced coincidence signal S of FIGS. 1 and 2, and not by the normal or true coincidence signal 8,. Factually when signal 8,, acts on gate 23 of the combination circuit of FIG. 4, the level of the weave signal from weave circuit A should be stable and correctly applied to gate 19c, (for instance). The weave circuits should therefore be actuated before the combination circuit. It will be understood that the same result could substantially be obtained by means of a single coincidence signal only slightly advanced in FIG. 1 with respect to the correct centering centering of optical system 2 with respect to the squares of the design, but which would be transmitted to the combination circuit of FIG. 4

through an appropriately adjusted delay circuit. In the same manner the weave shift circuit of FIG. 3 could be controlled by signal 8,, the latter being appropriately delayed so as to correspond in some manner to signal S, in the case of FIG. 2.

The modified weave circuit of FIG. 5 also comprises shift register 6, inverters 10a to 102, and grid G, as in FIG. 3. But here the register which corresponds to the warp threads is somewhat modified concerning its realization and its insertion in the circuit. It is formed of five flip-flops Fa to Fe, each comprising two outlets and five inlets. The outlets such as Fa, and Fa, are conventional and as in any flip-flop they are always of opposed levels in the reset state Fa, is at level 0 and Fa at level I, while in the set state Fa, is at level 1 and Fa at level 0. The two opposed inlets Fa and Fa, are those which imperatively control the state of the flip-flop independently of its prior state, as well as of the levels of the other inlets. This imperative resetting or setting is obtained by applying level 0 respectively to one or the other of these two inlets (which are normally at level I). lnlets Fa and Fa, also respectively control the resetting and the setting of the flip-flop independently of its prior state, but on condition that the fifth inlet Fa be at level 1 if this fifth inlet is at level 0, inlets Fa, and Fa are blocked and are therefore ineffective to modify the state of the flip-flop, whatever it may be. It results therefrom that if for instance Fa is at level I and Fa at level 0, but thatFa, is also at level 0, the flip-flop is unactuated, but that if a momentary pulse at level 1 is then applied to Fa-,, the flip-flop is set (of course if it was not previously in the set state). Moreover, if Fa, and Fa are both at level 1, any pulse of level 1 applied to Fa, changes the state of the flip-flop. In other words such a case inlet Fa, may be used as a single controlling inlet for the flip-flop.

The outlets such as Fa, and Fa, of each flip-flop are connected with the inlets such as Fb, and F12 of the next one in the row, the arrangement being of annular nature in that sense that the outlets Fe, and Fe of the last flip-flop Fe are connected with the inlets F05 and Fa, of the first one. The inlets such as Fa, (i.e. Fa Fb Fc Fd Fe are connected with a common wire 28 which is itself connected through an inverter 280 with the conductor 8 which controls the shifting of register 6. The inlets such as Fa, are respectively connected with the outlets of NAND gates 29a to 29e having two inlets, one of which is connected with a common wire 30 and the other with an individual wire 31a to 31e itself connected with the outlet of one of the inverters 14a to Me of FIG. 3. Finally the inlets such as Fa, are connected with a common wire 32.

Wire 32 is adapted to receive the advanced coincidence signal 8,. As to wire 30, it receives at the end of each line or row of squares a transfer signal T which appears somewhat after signal S, mentioned with reference to FIG. 3.

At the end of a line signal S, acts first to shift register 6. It may be assumed that after this shifting operation level 1 appears on the second outlet of register 6 starting from its upper end in FIG. 5, the other outlets being at level 0. Conductor 11b is therefore at level 0, while 11a, 11c, 11d and lle are at level 1. It results therefrom that 31c is at level I while 31a, 31b, 31d and 31e are at level 0. However as long as wire 30 has received no I06009 05 l l 9 pulse T at level 1, this state of wires Slato 31a does not pass through gates 29a to 29e which are blocked.

But signal 8,, also acts at the same time through wire 28 on the inlets such as Fa of flip-flops Fa to Fe which have all been imperatively set, their outlets such as Fa being at level and their outlets such as Fa, at level 1.

Transfer pulse T appears on wire 30 just whensignal S, has disappeared. Gates 29a to 29c are then conditioned and their outlets reproduce the reverse of the state of wires 31a to Site. In other words inlets Fa Fb Fc Fd, and Fe, will receive in parallel signals corresponding -to binary number 11011. Flip-flops Fa, Fb, Fd and Fe will remain in the reset state since it is necessary, for instance, to apply level 0 to Fa, to set Fa. But Fc will be set since its inlet Fc, receives a signal at level 0.

It is easy to see that the successive pulses S which will be generated during the reading in of the line of squares will only have for their result to shift the re gister device constituted by flip-flops Fa to Fe. Stated in other words,-considering the outlets such as Fa (i.e., Fa Fb Fc Fd and Fe their state will correspond to binary number 00100 (the reverse of the state of inlets Fa, to Fe as above noted). After each successive signal F this state will become 00010, then 00001, then 10000, then 01000 and again 00100, and so on. Considering one only of the outlets such as fa it will receive a succession of weave signals identical with the succession obtained on the outlet wire 17 of FIG. 3, but with this important difference that by selecting one of outlets Fa to Fe, it is possible to determine the beginning point of the weave without having to displace the plugs on grid G. Furthermore it is also possible to obtain the reverse weave by deriving the outlet signal fromany one of outlets Fa to F82.

In FIG. 5 the outlet terminals of the weave circuit have been referenced 33a, to 33e and 330 to 33e the first ones giving the normal or direct weave and the second ones the reverse weave.

.The diagram of FIG. 6 corresponds to a weave combination circuit which differs from that of FIG. 4 in that it permits of selecting at any time one of several weaves for each color. In order to simplify the explanations it has been supposed that the warp threads had been divided into three groups c c and 0 and the weft threads into two groups 2, and t The colors are two in number, namely C and C There may be provided any number of weaves, as for instance six A to A but in the example illustrated four only are used.

The diagram of FIG. 6 comprises a grid G having a number of sets of horizontal bars equal to the number of colors, namely two in the present caseEach set may comprise any number of bars in accordance with the maximum number of weaves which may be employed for one and the same color, namely four in the example illustrated. These bars have been referenced 34C a to 34C,d and 34C a to MC d. The number of sets of vertical bars is equal to the number of of groups of weft threads, namely two, and each set comprises as many bars as the number of groups of warp threads, namely three. These vertical bars have been reference 35a to 35c and 35a to 35c. Each vertical bar has its upper end connected with an inverter 36a to 36c, respectively 36a to 360, which is itself connected with one inlet of a NAND gate 37. This gate has a seventh inlet 38 adapted to receive signal S The outlet of gate 37 is connected with an inverter 39 the outlet 40 of which forms the general outlet of the circuit. The lower ends of the vertical bars are respectively connected with the outlets of individual inverters 41a to-4lc and 41a to 410' having their inlets connected with the outlets of NAND gates 42a to 420 and 42a to 420. Each one of these gates has a first inlet connected with a wire corresponding to a warp thread, such wire being referenced c c 0 in such manner that each wire, such as c, for instance, is connected with one gate in each set. The second inlet of gates 42a-42c or 42a- 42c is connected in the first set with a common wire t, which corresponds to the first weft thread, and in the second set with another common wire which corresponds to the second weft thread. Each wire t or t is thus connected with three gates.

The horizontal bars of each set are connected with the outlets of NAND gates 43C a to 43C d and 43C a to 43C d. A first inlet of all the gates of each set is connected with a common wire adapted to receive the color signal, respectively C for the first set and C for the second set. The second inlet of gates 43C,a to 43C d is adapted to be selectively connected with the outlets A to A In the example illustrated these connections are shown as formed 'of flexible wires for the sake of clarity and since they may be changed at will. They connect A with 43C b, A with 43C a and with 43C c, A with MC and 43C a and finally A with 43C b. As to weaves A and A they are not used in the present example. As illustrated the first inletsof gates 43C,c and 43C d are not connected with any weave circuit. These inlets may either be grounded, as indicated for gate 430m, in which case the gate is blocked, or left unconnected, which corresponds for this inlet to level 1, that is to say to the conditioning of the gate.

Of course wires 0 to c come from an appropriate register such as register 7 of FIG. 3, but only having three outlets. In the same manner wires t and t are connected with the two outlets of a register more or less similar to register 6 of FIG. 3.

At anytime only one weft wire (for instance t and only one warp wire (for instance 0 are simultaneously at level 1. Therefore only one gate (gate 42a) has both its inlets at level 1 and generates level 0 on its outlet. In this case the outlets of gates 42 thus represent binary number 011111. Considering the vertical bars situated downstream of inverters 41 and assuming there is no connecting plug between these bars and the horizontal bars 3% of grid G the said vertical bars would represent binary number 100000. This number would become 01 l 1 ll downstream of inverters 36 and therefore NAND gate 37 having one of its inlets at level 0 would generate level 1 on its outlet. The general of the circuit would-therefore be at level 0.

But if as shown there exists a plug on the vertical bar under consideration, namely on bar 35a in the above example, the voltage level. of this bar will be governed by the outlet of the gate or gates 43 with which the said bar is connected through the plug, namely gates d3C a and 33C 11 in the present instance.

Assuming that the photo-electric device reads color C and that the weave circuit A is so programmed that at the time under consideration a perforation is to be effected in the card, gate 43C a will generate level 0 which will be imparted to bar 35a. Gate 37 will therefore receive six inlets at level 1 (binary number llllll) and it will thus be conditioned to generate outlet level when signal s is received. The outlet of inverter 39, i.e., the general outlet 40 of the combination circuit, will therefore be at level 1 and the perforating machine will receive an actuating signal in accordance with the color and the weave.

If on the contrary the photo-electric device had read color C gate 33C 11 would have had all its inlets at level 1 (the unconnected inlet being automatically at this level) and therefore its outlet would have been at level 0 irrespective of any weave. In other words the Jacquard card would have been perforated independently of the weave.

It will further be remarked that the plugs which connect the vertical and the horizontal bars of grid 0, must be provided with appropriately disposed diodes in order that voltage levels 1 or 0 cannot undesirably pass from the connected bars (such as 35a, 34C a and 34C d) towards other ones.

The diagram of FIG. 6 thus permits of selecting the weaves as desired not only for the colors themselves, but also for the warp and weft threads. It has been supposed in this figure that for this selectionthe warp threads were divided into groups of three, and that the weft threads were divided into groups of two only, but it is obvious that any other number of threads in the respective groups could be used.

lclaim 1. An automatic device to be used in the preparation of perforated cards or bands for loom J acquards, of the kind wherein a colored drawing representing the two respective groups of warp and weft threads of the fabric to be woven and their mutual crossings, is read in by successive lines by main color sensible photo-electric means, the color signals from said main photo-electric means being combined with weave signals derived from memory means in unison with the scanning of the lines of the drawing by said main photo-electric means, so as to generate a combined signal adapted to actuate a perforating machine operating in synchronism with the scanning of the drawing, said device comprising a. means to generate an advanced coincidence signal between two successive color signals from said main photo-electric means b. weave circuits, each corresponding to a predetermined weave and each including a weave grid formed of two series of bars insulated from each other, with the bars of the first of said series representing the first one of the two respective groups of warp and weft threads of said predetermined weave and with the bars of the second series representing the threads of the second one of said groups of threads of said weave;

means to apply to the successive bars of the first series a line signal each time the said main photo-electric means pass from one line of said drawing to the next one;

means to selectively connect some at least of the bars of the first series each with one at least of the bars of the second series means to successively combine the signals received by the bars of said second series from the bars of said first series through said connecting means with said advanced coincidence signal in such manner that for each crossing of a thread of one of said groups of threads of said fabric with a thread of the other group of threads of said fabric, said circuit only generates an outlet signal if the bars which represent the last-named threads are connected with each other c. and a combination circuit-to receive the outlet signals from said weave circuits and the color signals from said main photo-electric means to generate a combined actuating signal for the perforating machine each time a weave signal and a color signal appear simultaneously.

2. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said first group of threads of said predetermined weave being formed of the weft threads.

3. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said selective connecting means between the bars of said grid including unidirectional conducting means.

4. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said means to apply signals to the bars of said first series of bars com prising a first annular shift register, actuated by said line signals, said register having outlets each connected with one bar of said first series.

5. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said means to combine signals received by the bars of said second series with said advanced coincidence signals comprising a second annular shift register actuated by said advanced coincidence signals, said register having outlets;

individual weave gates each having a first inlet connected with an outlet of said second shift register, a second inlet connected with one bar of said second series, and an outlet and a common weave gate having each of its inlets connected with the outlet of one of said individual weave gates and an outlet connected with said combination circuit.

6. In a device as claimed in claim 5, said means to combine signals received from the bars of said second series with said advanced coincidence signals comprisa. an annular shift register formed of flip-flops each having:

a pair of outlets always of opposed voltage levels a first pair of inlets positively determining the respective voltage levels of said pair of outlets;

a second pair of inlets to determine the respective voltage levels of said pair of outlets and a fifth inlet to render ineffective said second pair of inlets b. individual weave gates each having a first inlet connected with one bar of said second series, a second inlet to receive said line signal with a given delay, and an outlet c. the outlet of each of said individual weave gates being connected with one inlet of the first pair of inlets of one of said flip-flops, the second inlet of the first pair of inlets of said flip-flops receiving said line signals, the second pair of inlets of each of said flip-flops being respectively connected with the outlets of the preceding one in said register, the fifth inlets of said flip-flops receiving said advanced coincidence signals, and the outlet of said weave circuit being selectively formed of any one of the outlets of any of said flip-flops. 7. ln adevice as claimed in claim 6, said combination circuit comprising a r individual combination gates each having a first inlet to receive signals of a particular color from said main photo-electric means, a second inlet connected with the outlet of one of said weave circuits, and an outlet and common combination gate means to receive inlet signals from the outlets of said individual combination gates and an additional signal whenever said main photo-electric means scans the crossing of a thread of one of said groups of threads of said fabric with a thread of the other group of threads of said fabric, said gate means producing said combined actuating signal. 8. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said combination circuit comprising a combination grid having a first and a second series of bars insulated from each other each series being divided into a number of sets first individual combination gates, each corresponding to one bar of one set of the first series of said combination grid, and each having an outlet connected with said corresponding bar, a first inlet connectedwith the outlet of one of said weave circuits and a second inlet connected with the second inlets of the other first individual combination gates corresponding to the bars of the same set of the first series of said combination grid to receive signals of a particular color from said main photo-electric means means to selectively connect some at least of the bars of the first series of said combination grid each with one at least of the bars of the second series of same second individual combination gates each corsecond inlet connected with the second inlet of the other second individual combination gates corresponding to said one set of bars of said second series of said combination grid to form therewith one of a number of second inlet groups with said first inlet groups receiving in succession advanced coincidence signals and said second inlet groups receiving in succession line signals and common combination gate means to receive signals from the bars of the second series of said combination grid, and also an additional signal each time said main photo-electric means scans a thread crossing in said drawing, said gate means having an outlet which produces said combined actuating signal. 

1. An automatic device to be used in the preparation of perforated cards or bands for loom Jacquards, of the kind wherein a colored drawing representing the two respective groups of warp and weft threads of the fabric to be woven and their mutual crossings, is read in by successive lines by main color sensible photo-electric means, the color signals from said main photoelectric means being combined with weave signals derived from memory means in unison with the scanning of the lines of the drawing by said main photo-electric means, so as to generate a combined signal adapted to actuate a perforating machine operating in synchronism with the scanning of the drawing, said device comprising : a. means to generate an advanced coincidence signal between two successive color signals from said main photo-electric means ; b. weave circuits, each corresponding to a predetermined weave and each including : a weave grid formed of two series of bars insulated from each other, with the bars of the first of said series representing the first one of the two respective groups of warp and weft threads of said predetermined weave and with the bars of the second series representing the threads of the second one of said groups of threads of said weave; means to apply to the successive bars of the first series a line signal each time the said main photo-electric means pass from one line of said drawing to the next one ; means to selectively connect some at least of the bars of the first series each with one at least of the bars of the second series ; means to successively combine the signals received by the bars of said second series from the bars of said first series through said connecting means with said advanced coincidence signal in such manner that for each crossing of a thread of one of said groups of threads of said fabric with a thread of the other group of threads of said fabric, said circuit only generates an outlet signal if the bars which represent the last-named threads are connected with each other ; c. and a combination circuit to receive the outlet signals from said weave circuits and the color signals from said main photoelectric means to generate a combined actuating signal for the perforating machine each time a weave signal and a color signal appear simultaneously.
 2. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said first group of threads of said predetermined weave being formed of the weft threads.
 3. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said selective connecting means between the bars of said grid including unidirectional conducting means.
 4. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said means to apply signals to the bars of said first series of bars comprising a first annular shift register, actuated by said line signals, said register having outlets each connected with one bar of said first series.
 5. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said means to combine signals received by the bars of said second series with said advanced coincidence signals comprising : a second annular shift register actuated by said advanced coincidence signals, said register having outlets ; individual weave gates each having a first inlet connected with an outlet of said second shift register, a second inlet connected with one bar of said second series, and an outlet ; and a common weave gate having each of its inlets connected with the outlet of one of said individual weave gates and an outlet connected with said combination circuit.
 6. In a device as claimed in claim 5, said means to combine signals received from the bars of said second series with said advanced coincidence signals comprising : a. an annular shift register formed of flip-flops each having : a pair of outlets always of opposed voltage levels ; a first pair of inlets positively determining the respective voltage levels of said pair of outlets; a second pair of inlets to determine the respective voltage levels of said pair of outlets ; and a fifth inlet to render ineffective said second pair of inlets ; b. individual weave gates each having a first inlet connected with one bar of said second series, a second inlet to receive said line signal with a given delay, and an outlet ; c. the outlet of each of said individual weave gates being connected with one inlet of the first pair of inlets of one of said flip-flops, the second inlet of the first pair of inlets of said flip-flops receiving said line signals, the second pair of inlets of each of said flip-flops being respectively connected with the outlets of the preceding one in said register, the fifth inlets of said flip-flops receiving said advanced coincidence signals, and the outlet of said weave circuit being selectively formed of any one of the outlets of any of said flip-flops.
 7. In a device as claimed in claim 6, said combination circuit comprising : individual combination gates each having a first inlet to receive signals of a particular color from said main photo-electric means, a second inlet connected with the outlet of one of said weave circuits, and an outlet ; and common combination gate means to receive inlet signals from the outlets of said individual combination gates and an additional signal whenever said main photo-electric means scans the crossing of a thread of one of said groups of threads of said fabric with a thread of the other group of threads of said fabric, said gate means producing said combined actuating signal.
 8. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said combination circuit comprising : a combination grid having a first and a second series of bars insulated from each other each series being divided into a number of sets ; first individual combination gates, each corresponding to one bar of one set of the first series of said combination grid, and each having an outlet connected with said corresponding bar, a first inlet connected with the outlet of one of said weave circuits and a second inlet connected with the second inlets of the other first individual combination gates corresponding to the bars of the same set of the first series of said combination grid to receive signals of a particular color from said main photo-electric means ; means to selectively connect some at least of the bars of the first series of said combination grid each with one at least of the bars of the second series of same ; second individual combination gates each corresponding to one bar of one set of the second series of said combination grid, and each having an outlet connected with the corresponding bar of said one set of said second series of said combination grid, a first inlet connected with the first inlet of one second individual combination gate in each of the other sets of said second series of said combination grid to form therewith one of a number of first inlet groups, and a second inlet connected with the second inlet of the other second individual combination gates corresponding to said one set of bars of said second series of said combination grid to form therewith one of a number of second inlet groups with said first inlet groups receiving in succession advanced coincidence signals and said second inlet groups receiving in succession line signals ; and common combination gate meanS to receive signals from the bars of the second series of said combination grid, and also an additional signal each time said main photo-electric means scans a thread crossing in said drawing, said gate means having an outlet which produces said combined actuating signal. 